_The Nugget Finders_
[Illustration: He struck, and lo! a yellow streak became plainly
visible. “Boys, ... I believe we’ve found a nugget.”--_Chap._ XI.]
_The Nugget
Finders_
_A Tale of the Gold Fields
of Australia_
By H. Alger
John F. Shaw & Co., Ltd.,
_Publishers_,
3, Pilgrim Street, London, E.C.
_No. 1220_
CONTENTS
CHAP. PAGE
I. PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE 7
II. A TIMELY RESCUE 17
III. STARTING FOR THE MINES 25
IV. A VICTIM OF TREACHERY 35
V. A DISAGREEABLE SURPRISE 45
VI. FLETCHER TURNS UP AGAIN 48
VII. A TRIAL AND ITS TRAGIC FINALE 62
VIII. LOST IN THE WOODS 71
IX. A DANGEROUS ACQUAINTANCE 85
X. THE BOYS ARRIVE AT BENDIGO 95
XI. STRIKING LUCK 105
XII. THE NUGGET IN DANGER 115
XIII. A THIEF’S EMBARRASSMENT 124
XIV. BAFFLED CUPIDITY 129
XV. SELLING THE CLAIM 139
XVI. TAKEN CAPTIVE 149
XVII. FAREWELL TO MELBOURNE 165
XVIII. A HEART-BROKEN RELATIVE 173
XIX. HOME AGAIN 178
XX. THE BOYS SECURE POSITIONS 183
XXI. CONCLUSION 187
THE NUGGET FINDERS
CHAPTER I
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
A stout gentleman of middle age and two boys were sitting in the public
room of a modest inn in Melbourne. The gentleman was known to the
public as Professor Hemmenway, who announced himself on the programme
of his entertainment as “The Magician of Madagascar,” though he freely
confessed to his confidential friends that he had never seen the island
of that name.
The two boys were Harry Vane and Jack Pendleton, boys of sixteen.
One had come to Australia as assistant to the professor, and had
been accustomed to sing one or two popular songs at the magical
entertainments which he gave, besides rendering himself generally
useful. Jack Pendleton was a young sailor, who had resolved to try
his fortune in the new country, either at the mines or in any other
employment offering fair compensation, before resuming his profession.
Harry and the professor had been passengers on board Jack’s ship, and
the two boys had struck up an enduring friendship. The ship had been
wrecked, and they had spent some weeks together on an uninhabited
island, from which they were finally rescued. It had been the
professor’s intention to give a series of performances in Melbourne
and other parts of Australia, but the unexpected delay had led him to
change his plans, and he now proposed to return home at once. Harry
Vane, however, having no near family ties, for he was an orphan, felt
inclined to stay with Jack, and try his fortune for a time in the New
World, which appealed strongly to his imagination and youthful love
of adventure. The day had arrived for the professor’s departure, and
he and the two boys were waiting for the lighter to take him down the
Yarra Yarra River to the point of embarkation, eight miles distant.
“Harry,” said the professor kindly, “I don’t like to leave you here.
You are only sixteen, and I feel that it is a great undertaking for you
to attempt to make a living so many thousand miles from your native
land. I shall feel anxious about you.”
“I don’t feel anxious about myself, professor,” said Harry, with the
confidence natural to youth. “I am young and strong, and I mean to
succeed.”
“But suppose you fall sick?”
“Then Jack will look out for me.”
“You may be sure of that, Harry,” said the young sailor, with a glance
of affection at Harry.
“You might both fall sick.”
“Is it best to borrow trouble?” said Harry, smiling. “I think we shall
come out all right. But I am sorry you won’t stay with us, professor.”
Professor Hemmenway shook his head.
“I am three times your age, Harry,” he said, “and am not as hopeful
or sanguine as you. Besides, I have a wife and children at home who
are already very anxious at my long silence; I did indeed mean to make
a professional tour of Australia, but the shipwreck and those lonely
weeks on the island changed my plans. I have a competence already, and
can make an income at home twice as large as my expenses. Why should I
incur any risks?”
“I don’t know but you are right, professor, but Jack and I are not
so fortunate. Neither of us has a competence, and our prospects are
probably better here than at home.”
“Remember, Harry, that if you return I shall be glad to continue your
engagement and will even increase your salary.”
Jack Pendleton fixed his eyes anxiously on Harry’s face. He feared that
he would yield to the professor’s persuasion and leave him, but his
anxiety was soon removed.
“Thank you, professor,” said Harry, “but I don’t want to leave Jack. If
I return in bad luck, I may look you up and see whether the offer still
holds good.”
“Do so. You will always find a friend in me. But that reminds me,
Harry, of an important consideration. If you are to remain here, you
will want some money.”
“I have twelve pounds which I have saved up in your service.”
“And how much have you, Jack?”
The young sailor coloured, and looked a little uneasy.
“I have only two pounds,” he answered.
“That is, we have fourteen pounds between us, Jack,” said Harry
promptly.
“That is too little,” said the professor, shaking his head. “You must
let me be your banker.”
“On one condition, professor, with thanks for your kindness.”
“What is that?”
“A gentleman at home, Mr. Thomas Conway, has charge of fifty pounds
belonging to me. I was fortunate enough to save a railway train from
destruction, and this is the money the passengers raised for me. I will
give you an order on him for the amount of your loan.”
“That is unnecessary, Harry; I am willing to wait till you return.”
“Something might happen to me, professor, and I shall feel more
comfortable to think that my debts are paid.”
“Have your own way, then, Harry. Shall I give you the whole amount?”
“No, professor, I am afraid it would make me less enterprising.”
“How much shall it be?”
“Jack and I have fourteen pounds between us. Twenty more ought to be
sufficient.”
“As you please, Harry; but if you get into trouble, promise to
communicate with me, and send for assistance.”
“I will, sir.”
At this moment a carriage drew up in front of the inn.
“It is the carriage I ordered to take me to the lighter,” said the
professor. “You and Jack must go with me to the ship and see the last
of me.”
“With great pleasure, sir. Come along, Jack.”
The driver put the professor’s trunk on the carriage, and they set
out. It was a new trunk, bought in Melbourne, for the professor’s trunk
and clothing had been lost at the time of the shipwreck. His first care
had been to get a complete outfit in Melbourne, and he was now as well
provided as when he left home.
The two boys found the trip down the river a pleasant one. The trip by
land would have been considerably shorter, but the professor preferred
the river. The distance to the mouth is nine miles. The city of
Melbourne is situated chiefly on the north bank, and is a handsomely
built and prosperous town. The country bordering the river is not
particularly inviting, but it was new, and the two boys regarded it
with interest. The soil was barren and sandy, and the trees, which were
numerous, were eucalyptus or gum trees, which do not require a rich
soil, but grow with great rapidity on sterile soil.
Harry could not help feeling sad as he bade farewell to his good friend
the professor.
“I have only you now, Jack,” he said. “I don’t know what lies before
us, but we must stick fast to each other in sunshine and in storm.”
Jack’s only answer was to seize Harry’s hand and press it warmly.
Nothing more was needed.
The two boys returned to the Crown Hotel in time for dinner, of which
they partook with the zest to be expected of boys thoroughly healthy.
When the meal was over they repaired to the public room.
“Now, Jack,” said Harry, “it is necessary for us to settle on our
plans.”
“All right,” said Jack.
“Have you anything to propose?”
“No, Harry, you are smarter than I am, and I leave it to you.”
“Thank you, Jack, for your confidence, but we are on a par here.
Neither of us knows much about Australia. We have a great deal to
learn.”
“Then you had better decide for us both.”
“Very well, I accept the responsibility, but I prefer to talk over my
plans with you. First of all, then, shall we stay in Melbourne, or
strike for the mines?”
“Just as you say, Harry, but I would prefer the mines.”
“I feel that way myself, and for that reason I have been making some
inquiries. There are three principal localities--Ballarat, Bendigo, and
Ovens. We might try one of the three, and if we don’t have good luck
make our way to another.”
“Which shall we try first?”
“I have thought of Bendigo. I hear of one party that cleared two
thousand pounds out of one hole.”
“How much is that?” asked Jack, who was not very well acquainted with
any but United States currency.
“It is equal to ten thousand dollars,” answered Harry.
“That’s a big pile of money,” said Jack, his eyes sparkling.
“True, but we mustn’t expect to be so fortunate. It isn’t everybody who
succeeds as well as that.”
“I should be satisfied with a thousand, Harry.”
“And what would you do with it, Jack?”
“Convey it home to my mother, Harry. But I would fix it so that my
stepfather couldn’t get hold of it.”
“You are a good boy, Jack, for thinking so much of your mother. I wish
I had a mother to provide for,” and Harry Vane looked sober.
“Do you know how far off Bendigo is, Harry?”
“About a hundred miles. That is, it is seventy-five miles to Mount
Alexander, and the mines are twenty-five miles to the north of that.”
“It won’t take us long to travel a hundred miles,” said Jack hopefully.
“On the contrary, it will be a long and difficult journey, as far as I
can find out. The country is full of bogs, swamps, and moist land.”
“Then we can’t walk?”
“No; the custom is to charter a cart, drawn by oxen, which will give
a chance to carry a stock of provisions. The roads are not very well
marked, and are often impassable.”
This description rather discouraged Jack, who was more used to the sea
and its dangers than to land travel.
“I wish we could go by water,” he said.
“So do I, Jack, but unfortunately Bendigo happens to be inland.
However, you’ve got good stout legs, and can get along as well as the
thousands that do go. Besides, it will give us a fine chance to see the
country.”
“Ye-es,” said Jack doubtfully, for he had very little of the
traveller’s curiosity that prompts so many to visit strange lands.
“There’s another difficulty besides the mud,” continued Harry
thoughtfully.
“What’s that?”
“The bushrangers.”
“Who are they?”
“Haven’t you heard of them?” asked Harry in surprise.
“I heard two men speaking of them last night, but I didn’t take much
notice.”
“They are highwaymen--robbers, who wander about and attack parties of
miners and travellers, and unless successfully resisted, strip them of
all their property.”
“Are we likely to meet them?” said Jack eagerly.
“I hope not; but we stand a chance of doing so.”
“When are we going to start?” asked Jack with alacrity.
“Do you want to meet these gentlemen, Jack?” inquired Harry with a
smile.
“There’ll be some fun about it,” responded Jack.
Harry shrugged his shoulders.
“I don’t think there’ll be much fun about being robbed,” he said. “I
would rather they would give us a wide berth, for my part.”
Jack did not answer, but from that time he was eager to set out for the
mines. The hint of danger invested the journey with a charm it had not
hitherto possessed in his eyes.
While the boys were conversing, a tall man, with heavy black whiskers
and wearing a rough suit and a slouch hat, appeared to listen
attentively. At this point he rose from his seat, and lounged over to
where Harry and Jack were seated.
“Young gentlemen,” he said, “do I understand that you are thinking of
going to the mines?”
“Yes, sir,” answered Harry, surveying his inquirer with some attention.
“And you talk of going to Bendigo?”
“Yes; do you know anything about the place?”
“I ought to. I only came from there last month.”
“What luck did you have there, may I ask?”
“Pretty fair. I brought back about a hundred and fifty pounds in
gold-dust.”
“And how long were you there?”
“Four weeks.”
“That is pretty good pay for the time.”
“That’s so, especially as I made little or nothing the first three
weeks. I struck it rich the last week.”
“What do you say to that, Jack?” said Harry, turning to his companion.
“That pays better than being a sailor,” answered Jack, smiling.
“I should say it did.”
“When do you expect to start?” asked the stranger.
“As soon as we can get ready,” Harry replied.
“You are right there. Have you got money?”
“Why?” asked Harry, rather suspiciously.
“It will cost something for an outfit.”
“Yes; we have a moderate sum with us.”
“That is well,” said the stranger approvingly. “Do you know,” he
continued meditatively, “I have a great mind to go with you?”
“Then you are not satisfied with your pile?” said Harry.
“There’s very little left of it,” said their new acquaintance.
“You haven’t spent a hundred and fifty pounds in a month?” said Harry,
in surprise.
“Pretty much. I may have twenty pounds left.”
“You must have been living high, then.”
“No. I have lived plainly, but the faro table has taken most of it.
I’m so near broke that I may as well go back to the mines for a fresh
supply before my money is all gone.”
“We shall be glad of your company, sir.”
“My name is Fletcher--Dick Fletcher my friends call me.”
“I am Harry Vane, and my friend is Jack Pendleton.”
“We will drink to our better acquaintance. Here, John,” addressing the
bar-keeper, “three glasses of ale here.”
“If you won’t mind, Jack and I will take lemonade.”
Fletcher stared at them in amazement.
“You don’t drink ale?” he said.
“We belong to the temperance society,” said Harry, smiling.
“You won’t keep that up long at the mines,” said Fletcher, shrugging
his shoulders.
Harry did not reply, but quietly resolved that he would disprove that
statement.